Today we unveil the results of Round 3 of our latest Slicing Up Eyeballs readers poll series, a 1-to-282 ranking of R.E.M.’s entire catalog of songs recorded between 1981 — the original Hib-Tone release of “Radio Free Europe” — and the band’s eventual break-up in 2011.
A quick refresher: We asked readers to vote for up to 25 of their favorite songs recorded by R.E.M., choosing from a ballot that listed 282 singles, album tracks, compilation cuts and, yes, even cover songs, which we’d excluded on previous polls involving the oeuvres of The Cure and The Smiths.
Not included in this poll: Remixes, alternate versions, re-recordings of songs, or live tracks — though a couple of the latter may have slipped through and onto the prodigious ballot.
RELATED: Playlist of all 282 of R.E.M.’s songs, ranked — minus the 38 that aren’t on Spotify
Based on a total of 64,828 votes, the full results are presented below. As you can see, the No. 1 song topped the list by a comfortable 160-vote margin (unlike the single vote that split No. 1 and No. 2 on our poll of The Cure’s work). But two songs tied for No. 2 on the R.E.M. list with exactly 1,759 votes apiece.
After our poll of The Smiths’ catalog that saw no ties whatsoever, there are ties galore on this list, particularly when you get down to songs in the lower depths — obscure B-sides, fan club singles — that only garnered a handful of votes apiece. And, for the first time, there are songs — six to be exact — that did not get any votes. They round out the bottom of the poll, tied for last.
As always, thank you all so much for participating.
And now, the results:
THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF R.E.M.: ALL 282 SONGS, RANKED
1. “Fall On Me”
Single; appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 1,919 votes
2. “Driver 8” (TIE)
Single; appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 1,759 votes
2. “Radio Free Europe” (TIE)
Single (twice); appears on Murmur (1981/1983) | 1,759 votes
4. “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)”
Single; appears on Reckoning (1984) | 1,701 votes
5. “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville”
Single; appears on Reckoning (1984) | 1,497 votes
6. “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”
Single; appears on Document (1987) | 1,457 votes
7. “Nightswimming”
Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 1,406 votes
8. “Begin the Begin”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 1,184 votes
9. “Orange Crush”
Single; appears on Green (1988) | 1,183 votes
10. “Gardening at Night”
Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 1,126 votes
11. “The One I Love”
Single; appears on Document (1987) | 1,116 votes
12. “Losing My Religion”
Single; appears on Out of Time (1991) | 1,082 votes
13. “Finest Worksong”
Single; appears on Document (1987) | 1,073 votes
14. “Pretty Persuasion”
Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 1,029 votes
15. “Superman”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 1,011 votes
16. “Talk About the Passion”
Single; appears on Murmur (1983) | 996 votes
17. “Man on the Moon”
Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 994 votes
18. “Cuyahoga”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 955 votes
19. “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”
Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 902 votes
20. “Can’t Get There From Here”
Single; appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 897 votes
21. “Perfect Circle”
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 876 votes
22. “I Believe”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 874 votes
23. “Harborcoat”
Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 830 votes
24. “World Leader Pretend”
Appears on Green (1988) | 750 votes
25. “Country Feedback”
Appears on Out of Time (1993) | 733 votes
26. “Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)”
Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 726 votes
27. “You Are the Everything”
Appears on Green (1988) | 689 votes
28. “7 Chinese Bros.”
Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 680 votes
29. “Drive”
Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 668 votes
30. “Everybody Hurts”
Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 663 votes
31. “Find the River”
Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 647 votes
32. “Pop Song 89”
Single; appears on Green (1988) | 642 votes
33. “Feeling Gravity’s Pull”
Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 630 votes
34. “Swan Swan H”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 611 votes
35. “Wolves, Lower”
Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 591 votes
36. “These Days”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 579 votes
37. “Catapult”
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 562 votes
38. “Half a World Away”
Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 554 votes
39. “Exhuming McCarthy” (TIE)
Appears on Document (1987) | 529 votes
39. “Maps and Legends” (TIE)
Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 529 votes
41. “Near Wild Heaven”
Single; appears on Out of Time (1991) | 522 votes
42. “Disturbance at the Heron House”
Appears on Document (1987) | 521 votes
43. “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite”
Single; appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 517 votes
44. “Pilgrimage”
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 504 votes
45. “Sitting Still”
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 500 votes
46. “Try Not to Breathe”
Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 496 votes
47. “Life and How to Live It”
Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 477 votes
48. “E-Bow the Letter”
Single; appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 476 votes
49. “Electrolite”
Single; appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 470 votes
50. “Crush With Eyeliner”
Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 448 votes
51. “Turn You Inside-Out”
Appears on Green (1988) | 437 votes
52. “Texarkana”
Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 434 votes
53. “Stand”
Single; appears on Green (1988) | 421 votes
54. “Me in Honey”
Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 408 votes
55. “Daysleeper”
Single; appears on Up (1998) | 404 votes
56. “At My Most Beautiful”
Single; appears on Up (1998) | 401 votes
57. “Imitation of Life”
Single; appears on Reveal (2001) | 396 votes
58. “Welcome to the Occupation”
Appears on Document (1987) | 388 votes
59. “Shaking Through”
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 368 votes
60. “Low”
Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 362 votes
61. “Green Grow the Rushes”
Appears on Fables of Reconstruction (1985) | 360 votes
62. “The Flowers of Guatemala”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 351 votes
63. “1,000,000” (TIE)
Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 339 votes
63. “Moral Kiosk” (TIE)
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 339 votes
65. “Shiny Happy People”
Single; appears on Out of Time (1991) | 334 votes
66. “King of Birds”
Appears on Document (1988) | 330 votes
67. “Sweetness Follows”
Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 328 votes
68. “Bang and Blame”
Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 318 votes
69. “Wendell Gee”
Single; appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 317 votes
70. “Oddfellows Local 151”
Appears on Document (1987) | 308 votes
71. “Strange Currencies”
Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 306 votes
72. “Laughing”
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 300 votes
73. “Radio Song”
Single; appears on Out of Time (1991) | 290 votes
74. “Camera”
Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 287 votes
75. “Ages of You”
B-side of “Wendell Gee” and a single off Dead Letter Office (1985/1987) | 282 votes
76. “Belong”
Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 271 votes
77. “Get Up”
Single; appears on Green (1988) | 266 votes
78. “The Great Beyond”
Single; appears on “Man on the Moon” soundtrack (1999) | 263 votes
79. “Time After Time (Annelise)”
Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 251 votes
80. “Ignoreland”
Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 243 votes
81. “Leave”
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 235 votes
82. “Bittersweet Me”
Single; appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 233 votes
83. “Hyena”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 228 votes
84. “Leaving New York”
Single; appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 222 votes
85. “Bad Day”
Single; appears on In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (2003) | 216 votes
86. “Let Me In” (TIE)
Appears on Monster (1994) | 208 votes
86. “What if We Give it All Away?” (TIE)
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 208 votes
88. “Crazy”
B-side of “Driver 8” (1985) | 207 votes
89. “Letter Never Sent”
Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 204 votes
90. “Monty Got a Raw Deal”
Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 197 votes
91. “Auctioneer (Another Engine)” (TIE)
Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 194 votes
91. “I Remember California” (TIE)
Appears on Green (1988) | 194 votes
91. “Star 69” (TIE)
Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 194 votes
94. “How the West Was Won and Where It Got Us” (TIE)
Single; appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 191 votes
94. “Walk Unafraid” (TIE)
Appears on Up (1998) | 191 votes
96. “Kohoutek”
Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 189 votes
97. “We Walk”
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 188 votes
98. “Pale Blue Eyes”
B-side of “So. Central Rain” (1984) | 185 votes
99. “Hairshirt”
Appears on Green (1988) | 179 votes
100. “All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)”
Single; appears on Reveal (2001) | 166 votes
101. “Second Guessing”
Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 164 votes
102. “Voice of Harold”
B-side of “So. Central Rain” (1984) | 163 votes
103. “Living Well is the Best Revenge”
Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 162 votes
104. “Little America”
Appears on Reckoning (1984) | 153 votes
105. “9-9” (TIE)
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 149 votes
105. “Good Advices” (TIE)
Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 149 votes
107. “Be Mine”
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 148 votes
108. “Star Me Kitten”
Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 142 votes
109. “Supernatural Superserious”
Single; appears on Accelerate (2008) | 140 votes
110. “West of the Fields”
Appears on Murmur (1983) | 139 votes
111. “Just a Touch”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 135 votes
122. “New Test Leper”
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 134 votes
113. “Fretless”
Appears on “Until the End of the World” soundtrack (1991) | 126 votes
114. “Bandwagon”
B-side of “Can’t Get There From Here” (1985) | 164 votes
115. “I Don’t Sleep, I Dream”
Appears on Monster (1994) | 124 votes
116. “So Fast, So Numb”
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 122 votes
117. “First We Take Manhattan”
Appears on I’m Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen (1991) | 118 votes
118. “There She Goes Again”
B-side of “Radio Free Europe” (1983) | 115 votes
119. “The Wrong Child”
Appears on Green (1988) | 114 votes
120. “11th Untitled Song”
Appears on Green (1988) | 112 votes
121. “King of the Road”
B-side of “So. Central Rain” (1984) | 112 votes
122. “Strange”
Appears on Document (1987) | 110 votes
123. “Lightnin’ Hopkins”
Appears on Document (1987) | 109 votes
124. “Old Man Kensey”
Appears on Fables of the Reconstruction (1985) | 106 votes
125. “The Wake-Up Bomb”
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 98 votes
126. “Lotus”
Single; appears on Up (1999) | 96 votes
127. “Femme Fatale” (TIE)
B-side of “Superman” (1986) | 90 votes
127. “I’ll Take the Rain” (TIE)
Single; appears on Reveal (2001) | 90 votes
129. “Love is All Around” (TIE)
Appears on “I Shot Andy Warhol” soundtrack (1996) | 87 votes
129. “Toys in the Attic” (TIE)
B-side of “Fall on Me” (1985) | 87 votes
131. “Stumble”
Appears on Chronic Town EP (1982) | 85 votes
132. “Tongue”
Single; appears on Monster (1994) | 83 votes
133. “Photograph” (with Natalie Merchant)
Appears on Born to Choose compilation (1993) | 78 votes
134. “I Took Your Name” (TIE)
Appears on Monster (1994) | 76 votes
134. “Uberlin” (TIE)
Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 76 votes
136. “All I Have To Do Is Dream” (TIE)
Appears on Athens, GA: Inside/Out soundtrack (1987) | 73 votes
136. “Fireplace” (TIE)
Appears on Document (1987) | 73 votes
136. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” (TIE)
B-side of “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” (1993) | 73 votes
139. “Undertow”
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 71 votes
140. “Why Not Smile”
Appears on Up (1998) | 68 votes
141. “King of Comedy”
Appears on Monster (1994) | 66 votes
142. “Wall of Death”
Appears on Beat the Retreat: Songs by Richard Thompson (1994) | 64 votes
143. “Romance”
Appears on “Made in Heaven” soundtrack (1987) | 63 votes
144. “Sad Professor”
Appears on Up (1998) | 61 votes
145. “Academy Fight Song” (TIE)
Appears on 1989 fan club single | 59 votes
145. “We All Go Back to Where We Belong” (TIE)
Appears on Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011 (2011) | 59 votes
147. “Underneath the Bunker”
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant (1986) | 58 votes
148. “Circus Envy” (TIE)
Appears on Monster (1994) | 57 votes
148. “Falls to Climb” (TIE)
Appears on Up (1998) | 57 votes
150. “All the Right Friends”
Appears on “Vanilla Sky” soundtrack (2001) | 56 votes
151. “The Lifting”
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 55 votes
152. “Binky the Doormat” (TIE)
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 54 votes
152. “Burning Down” (TIE)
B-side of “Wendell Gee” (1985) | 54 votes
152. “I’ve Been High” (TIE)
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 54 votes
155. “Accelerate” (TIE)
Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 53 votes
155. “It Happened Today” (TIE)
Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 53 votes
155. “Oh My Heart” (TIE)
Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 53 votes
158. “Man-Sized Wreath”
Single; appears on Accelerate (2008) | 49 votes
159. “Hollow Man”
Single; appears on Accelerate (2008) | 47 votes
160. “Windout”
Appears on “Bachelor Party” soundtrack (1984) | 46 votes
161. “Electron Blue” (TIE)
Single; appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 42 votes
161. “Hope” (TIE)
Appears on Up (1998) | 42 votes
161. “You” (TIE)
Appears on Monster (1994) | 42 votes
164. “She Just Wants to Be”
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 41 votes
165. “Beat a Drum”
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 40 votes
166. “Endgame”
Appears on Out of Time (1991) | 39 votes
167. “Until the Day is Done”
Single; appears on Accelerate (2008) | 37 votes
168. “Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter” (TIE)
Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 36 votes
169. “The Apologist” (TIE)
Appears on Up (1998) | 36 votes
170. “Burning Hell”
B-side of “Can’t Get There From Here” (1985) | 35 votes
171. “Departure”
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 34 votes
172. “Discoverer”
Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 32 votes
173. “Suspicion” (TIE)
Appears on Up (1998) | 31 votes
173. “Walter’s Theme” (TIE)
B-side of “So. Central Rain” (1984) | 31 votes
175. “It’s a Free World, Baby” (TIE)
Appears on “Coneheads” soundtrack (1993) | 30 votes
175. “Low Desert” (TIE)
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 30 votes
177. “Diminished” (TIE)
Appears on Up (1998) | 29 votes
177. “Moon River” (TIE)
Appears on Reckoning: IRS Vintage Years reissue (1992) | 29 votes
179. “Dark Globe”
B-side of “Orange Crush” (1988) | 28 votes
180. “Animal”
Single; appears on In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (2003) | 27 votes
181. “New Orleans Instrumental No. 1”
Appears on Automatic for the People (1992) | 26 votes
181. “Arms of Love” (TIE)
B-side of “Man on the Moon” (1992) | 26 votes
181. “The Ascent of Man” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 26 votes
181. “I Walked with a Zombie” (TIE)
Appears on “Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson (1990) | 26 votes
181. “White Tornado” (TIE)
B-side of “Superman” (1986) | 26 votes
181. “You’re in the Air” (TIE)
Appears on Up (1998) | 26 votes
187. “Boy in the Well”
Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 25votes
188. “Parakeet”
Appears on Up (1998) | 24 votes
189. “Aftermath” (TIE)
Single; appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 23 votes
189. “I’m Gonna DJ” (TIE)
Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 23 votes
191. “#9 Dream” (TIE)
Appears on Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur (2007) | 22 votes
191. “Around the Sun” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2008) | 22 votes
191. “Hallelujah” (TIE)
Appears on Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011 (2011) | 22 votes
194. “Draggin’ the Line” (TIE)
Appears on “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” soundtrack (1999) | 21 votes
194. “Ghost Rider” (TIE)
B-side of “Orange Crush” (1988) | 21 votes
194. “Houston” (TIE)
Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 21 votes
197. “Blue” (TIE)
Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 20 votes
197. “Disappear” (TIE)
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 20 votes
197. “Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando and I” (TIE)
Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 20 votes
197. “Airportman” (TIE)
Appears on Up (1998) | 20 votes
201. “Chorus and the Ring” (TIE)
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 19 votes
201. “Final Straw” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 19 votes
201. “Horse to Water” (TIE)
Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 19 votes
201. “Revolution” (TIE)
Appears on “Batman & Robin” soundtrack (1997) | 19 votes
201. “See No Evil” (TIE)
Appears on 1988 fan club single | 19 votes
201. “Walk it Back” (TIE)
Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 19 votes
207. “Every Day Is Yours to Win” (TIE)
Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 18 votes
207. “Mr. Richards” (TIE)
Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 18 votes
207. “The Outsiders” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 18 votes
210. “Wicked Game”
Appears on 1995 fan club single | 16 votes
211. “Mine Smell Like Honey” (TIE)
Single; appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 15 votes
211. “Saturn Return” (TIE)
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 15 votes
211. “Zither” (TIE)
Appears on New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996) | 15 votes
214. “Rotary Ten” (TIE)
B-side of “Fall On Me” (1986) | 14 votes
214. “Wanderlust” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 14 votes
216. “I Wanted to Be Wrong” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 13 votes
216. “Where’s Captain Kirk?” (TIE)
Appears on 1992 fan club single | 13 votes
218. “After Hours” (TIE)
B-side of “Losing My Religion” (1991) | 12 votes
218. “All the Best” (TIE)
Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 12 votes
218. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (TIE)
Appears on 2010 fan club single | 12 votes
218. “New Orleans Instrumental No. 2” (TIE)
B-side to “Man on the Moon” (1992) | 12 votes
218. “Permanent Vacation” (TIE)
Appears on iTunes Originals: R.E.M. (2004) | 12 votes
223. “The Worst Joke Ever” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 11 votes
223. “Tighten Up” (TIE)
Appears on Bucketfull of Brains magazine flexidisc (1985) | 11 votes
225. “Last Date” (TIE)
B-side of “The One I Love” (1987) | 10 votes
225. “Memphis Train Blues” (TIE)
B-side of “Stand” (1989) | 10 votes
227. “Sing for the Submarine”
Appears on Accelerate (2008) | 9 votes
228. “High Speed Train” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2011) | 8 votes
228. “Out in the Country” (TIE)
B-side of “Bad Day” (2003) | 8 votes
228. “Sex Bomb” (TIE)
Appears on 1994 fan club single | 8 votes
231. “Chance (Dub)” (TIE)
B-side of “Everybody Hurts” (1993) | 7 votes
231. “Good King Wencelas” (TIE)
Appears on 1989 fan club single | 7 votes
231. “Make It All Okay” (TIE)
Appears on Around the Sun (2004) | 7 votes
231. “Summertime” (TIE)
Appears on 1990 fan club single | 7 votes
231. “That Someone Is You” (TIE)
Appears on Collapse Into Now (2011) | 7 votes
236. “165 Hillcrest” (TIE)
B-side of “All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)” (2001) | 6 votes
236. “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” (TIE)
Appears on 2000 fan club single | 6 votes
236. “Indian Summer” (TIE)
B-side of “Hollow Man” (2008) | 6 votes
236. “Mandolin Strum” (TIE)
B-side of “Everybody Hurts” (1993) | 6 votes
236. “Red Head Walking” (TIE)
Appears on Accelerate: Deluxe Edition (2008) | 6 votes
236. “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” (TIE)
Appears on MTV’s “The Cutting Edge” (1984) | 6 votes
236. “Summer Turns High” (TIE)
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 6 votes
236. “Winged Mammal Theme” (TIE)
B-side of “Drive” (1992) | 6 votes
243. “Beach Ball” (TIE)
Appears on Reveal (2001) | 5 votes
243. “Christmas Griping” (TIE)
Appears on 1991 fan club single | 5 votes
243. “Favorite Writer” (TIE)
B-side of “Bad Day” (203) | 5 votes
243. “I Will Survive” (TIE)
Appears on 1996 fan club single | 5 votes
243. “Sponge” (TIE)
Appears on Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation (1996) | 5 votes
243. “Tired of Singing Trouble” (TIE)
Appears on Lifes Rich Pageant: IRS Vintage Years (1993) | 5 votes
250. “Baby Baby” (TIE)
Appears on 1991 fan club single | 4 votes
250. “Forty Second Song” (TIE)
B-side of “Shiny Happy People” (1991) | 4 votes
250. “Ghost Reindeer in the Sky” (TIE)
Appears on 1990 fan club single | 4 votes
250. “Magnetic North” (TIE)
Appears on 2007 fan club single | 4 votes
254. “Christmas in Tunisia” (TIE)
Appears on 1994 fan club single | 3 votes
254. “Christmas Time is Here” (TIE)
Appears on 1993 fan club single | 3 votes
254. “Emphysema” (TIE)
B-side of “Daysleeper” (1998) | 3 votes
254. “Funtime” (TIE)
B-side of “Get Up” (1989) | 3 votes
254. “Hastings and Main” (TIE)
Appears on 2000 fan club single | 3 votes
254. “Living Well Jesus Dog” (TIE)
B-side of “Man-Sized Wreath” (2008) | 3 votes
254. “No Matter What” (TIE)
Appears on 2002 fanclub single | 3 votes
254. “Santa Baby” (TIE)
Appears on 2009 fan club single | 3 votes
262. “Fruity Organ” (TIE)
B-side of “Man on the Moon” (1993) | 2 votes
262. “Java” (TIE)
Appears on 1995 fan club single | 2 votes
262. “Live for Today” (TIE)
Appears on 1997 fan club single | 2 votes
262. “Rotary Eleven” (TIE)
B-side of “Losing My Religion” (1991) | 2 votes
262. “Yellow River” (TIE)
B-side of “All the Way to Reno (You’re Gonna Be a Star)” (2001) | 2 votes
267. “32 Chord Song” (TIE)
B-side of “I’ll Take the Rain” (2001) | 1 vote
267. “A Month of Saturdays” (TIE)
Appears on Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage (2011) | 1 vote
267. “Adagio” (TIE)
B-side of “Bad Day” (2003) | 1 vote
267. “Airliner” (TIE)
Appears on Accelerate: Deluxe Edition (2008) | 1 vote
267. “Jesus Christ” (TIE)
Appears on 2002 fan club single | 1 vote
267. “Only in America” (TIE)
Appears on 1996 fan club single | 1 vote
267. “Organ Song” (TIE)
B-side of “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” (1993) | 1 vote
267. “Silver Bells” (TIE)
Appears on 1993 fan club single | 1 vote
267. “Surfing the Ganges” (TIE)
B-side of “Lotus” (1998) | 1 vote
267. “Take Seven” (TIE)
Appears on 2000 fan club single | 1 vote
277. “2JN” (TIE)
B-side of “Imitation of Life” (2001) | 0 votes
277. “Crazy Like a Fox” (TIE)
Appears on 2009 fan club single | 0 votes
277. “Nola-4/26/2010” (TIE)
B-side of “Oh My Heart” (2011) | 0 votes
277. “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” (TIE)
Appears on 1988 fan club single | 0 votes
277. “Toyland” (TIE)
Appears on 1992 fan club single | 0 votes
277. “Tricycle” (TIE)
B-side of “E-Bow the Letter” (1996) | 0 votes
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- R.E.M., Camper Van Beethoven members offer reward after PA stolen from 40 Watt Club
- Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of R.E.M.: Vote for your 25 favorite songs (from this list of 282)
- Vintage Video: R.E.M. tears up pre-‘Murmur’ set in earliest known pro-shoot footage
- MTV promo from 1988: ‘When I’m an old person, I think I’ll still be listening to R.E.M.’
- R.E.M.’s ‘Automatic For the People’ to receive 25th anniversary reissue this fall
- R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe to debut rare solo music as part of Moogfest audiovisual project
Very cool that Fall On Me hit the pole position. In retrospect it’s a perfect balance of where they came from and where they would go.
Thanks for doing this vote.
It was very difficult to limit picks to 25, but lost of fun to see the results.
I am stunned that “Shiny Happy People” did as well as it did given its status as probably the most despised R.E.M. song by many fans (and even the band itself.)
Agreed re: SHP. Conversely, the fact that Losing My Religion couldn’t crack the top 10 suggests there was a lot of discernment amongst the voters. This crowd isn’t just casual fans!
P I X I E S N E X T
Nice hint, dc. Wow, Pixies promoter since hearing/buying them for the first time in 1988 @ the shop we worked in, BBC Records in Lancaster, PA. I find their recent songs on par. A huge worry for me is, when a list or the subject of the Pixies comes up, so many “fans” acting cool or just having a their brains in their pants, will rant “I miss Kim Deal!” and/or “No Kim Deal = no Pixies!” Of for Christ’s sake.
Just a goof I noticed.
“Second Guessing” is listed at #101. When you scroll down to #110, “West of the Fields” there is a photo of the “Radio Free Europe” single sleeve. Below it “just a Touch” is listed as #101, and down to #110 as the Untitled song from “Green.”
Alright you people …. who’s the joker who gave “Organ Song” a vote?!?!
Great list. But come on people. “Shaking Through” at 59?!?! That is top ten or nothing!
Agreed after Daysleeper & At my most beautiful ????? People like Up songs better than Murmur songs? Stunningly stupid.
Yes, people with opinions that differ from your own are stupid.
Thank you, Faroe. I’ll throw it in that REVEAL is in my top 5 R.E.M. LPs.
Sitting Still is soo gooood why isnt it top 10
Shocked that Sing for the Submarine is so low on this list… but it’s arguably the best song on Accelerate. But at the same time I wouldn’t expect an unscientific vote to actually make sense, no offense intended. The top of the list thought is pretty accurate. I might quibble with the placement but that seems like a fair part of this list.
I think the Top 50 is very strong which is a good sign of immaculate taste by the voters
Agreed Shaking Through is worthy of more
Fun to participate in this, naturally as an old man and old-time fan my Top 25 were all pre-1990 – looks like I was not alone with that preference
“Superman” Was a Single too….and had a great cover!
Agree with top 20 for most part, except for ‘Kenneth'(not even close) and ‘Rockville’ is top 20, but not #5. Most egregious is ‘Fireplace’ at #126
https://foolsrushinredux.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/the-gilded-age.html o hai I wrote a thing about them, for REM lovers only. Love the list, but #2 is my #1.
Find the river at 31. You’re having a laugh. Should be much higher.
Have ‘Collapse Into Now’ songs still not sunken into our collective consciousness yet? Nothing until Uberlin at 124, and my favorite ‘All The Best’ at 208. My favorite post-Berry album.
It’s an album that’s probably due for a reappraisal at some point. I tend to think it starts strong, but their better instincts abandon them as the album goes on with all the novelty songs and guest appearances and so forth.
Look no further than “Mine Smell Like Honey,” which upon release was hailed for having all the musical elements of a classic REM song, right down to the wonderful singalong chorus … but was inexplicably (and inexcusably) titled “Mine Smell Like Honey.” People expect a lot of things from REM, but they don’t expect crassness or stupidity. And so here we are and a song that could have been an all-time favorite earns all of 15 votes, and the album around it is largely forgotten.
Hey Jon, Collapse Into Now is not lost on our gang. We love it. I think many here obviously don’t own it. Hopefully comments like ours will help them pull the trigger.
Agreed. Collapse was a strong finish for the band. It does not deserve to be overlooked.
You’ve got #s 101-110 repeated. Not the tracks, but you used the number set twice. So everything should be bumped up by 10 or something like that.
Well that’s embarrassing. It’s now fixed.
A friend points out that “Furry Happy Monsters, the Sesame Street version of “Shiny Happy People,” is not listed. It appears on Sesame Street’s “Songs from the Street” box set from 2003.
“Not included in this poll: Remixes, alternate versions, re-recordings of songs, or live tracks”
What a shame “Crazy Like a Fox” didn’t rate higher. Great Lenny Kaye cover sung by band secret weapon Mike Mills. I should’ve voted for it. Sure hope this list generates some interest in releasing the fan club singles in a widespread format.
“Good Advices” got robbed!
Accelerate has grown on me, though it seems that’s not a common opinion.
Im surprised that Mr Richards isnt higher. After saying that I’m not sure it would make my top 25. Nightswimming is my all tume favourite song by any artist but apparently there are 6 songs better!
No, there aren’t. I agree with you about “Nightswimming.” For some reason others don’t know that it is the greatest song ever.
Not surprised, but once again the most underrated album in rock history, Up, is GROSSLY overlooked.
+1
Ordered lists are one of the many tools we use to push back the realization that we are going to die. Also, “Leaving New York” should be way higher up than #84.
I enjoyed this. So happy to see Fall on Me on top.
Surprised and pleased to see Gardening at Night at number 10. Very discerning voters. :-)
Totally missed the poll re: summer holidays but pleasantly surprised to see Driver 8 so high. Spent the weekend in the garage listening to “The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982–1987” (many repeats) and always stopped doing work and just listened to it every time it cued up. Bloody great song.
Ebow the letter,& I am the lotus, should have been placed higher: in my opinion; & night swimming also deserves a higher pole position…
Rem: well done good Sirs, thank you :) x
Holy cow, I thought I was the only one that valued “Driver 8” so highly. Glad to see I was not alone.
Fun list! Really interesting that Fall On Me was #1, not what I expected, but very cool. Driver 8 as #2 made my month. Only disappointment for me was the low numbers for songs from Accelerate. I think “Until The Day Is Done” was there best thing since Document. Underrated album methinks…fun read though!
Find the River is the best song Michael ever wrote
I loved participating and bummed I missed the Smiths poll, as they are my favorite band. I’m currently also enjoying the playlist for this poll on Spotify – it’s nice to hear some of the later-era songs in a different context than the album (and lots of late-era non-album tracks I never heard, kinda gave up on the b-sides after Dead Letter Office.)
One thought/suggestion for future polls: Is there a way to list the songs by album?
Looking at the final list, I’m realizing there are a handful of songs I accidentally skipped over. I had planned to go through the list a second time but with so many songs, I decided to just stick with my original list.
Driver 8 number 1…..by a long way followed by Country Feedback at number 2 and It’s the End of the World…..number 3 You are the Everything honourable mention
Also shows the early stuff was ace latterly they we average……..
loving this, especially the driver 8 placing, the song is used to sing to my kids at bedtime … but little of new adventures … one of their 2 or 3 best albums (life’s rich and document also).
but hey, great list thank you and agree with loads
New Adventures in Hi-Fi
Just a guess, but maybe the song listed in between #111 and #113 might just possibly be #112: not #122? It’s “New Test Leper”, which should be MUCH higher on the list.
“How The West Was Won, And Where It Got Us” is #1, with “Drive” and “Nightswimming” tied for #2 in my list.
“Furry Happy Monsters” should absolutely be on this list.
This 59 y/o grandpa loves R.E.M.’s music.
About FHM: “Not included in this poll: Remixes, alternate versions, re-recordings of songs, or live tracks”
A bit too much nostalgia for the older tracks me thinks.
1.Find the River
2.Strange Currencies
3.Nightswimming
4.So central Rain
5.Daysleeper
6.Everbody Hurts
7.Fall on me
8.Bang and blame
9.Driver 8
10.Half a world away/Belong
I challenge anyone to come up with a better collection of songs that have been released by any artist or group. ‘I’ve Been High’ would/should have been huge if released as ‘live version’,too much overproduction butchered the song on the album ‘Reveal’.
Good Advices should be in the top 30
“Good Advices” belongs top 30
Wendell Gee
Cuyahoga
Flowers of Guatemala
Binky the doormat
Strange
ALL ABOVE GREAT
We Walk… not
I assumed Flowers of Guatemala was a top 20 shoe-in
I know I’m way too damn late on this, but I freakin LOVE Hope.
Way, way late on this. I fell off REM just before Automatic (not sure why), only know the old tunes. Love seeing Fall on Me at the #1…there’s something about that tune, seems to capture best that kind of mysterious beauty which I think drew us all to this band. And yeah, I’m one of those guys that liked it best when you couldn’t really get what Stipe was saying and when you could, you didn’t care what it meant, you just liked the sound of the words. The chorus with Mills, Stipe and Berry singing different melodic lines (that’s called polyphony for us stuffy academic types) is absolutely inspired. Enjoying all the comments here, good stuff.